Caperdonich 37 Year Old 1972 Cask 7437 - Rare Auld (Duncan Taylor) Whisky

Caperdonich 37 Year 1972/2010 Cask 7437 Rare Auld (Duncan Taylor)

Appearance: beautiful bottle. If only I had it. This whisky comes courtesy of the excellent Masters of Malt website in a 30ml sample size. The whisky itself is colored a rich lemon amber.

Nose: surprisingly restrained for such a high alcohol content. I would not have guessed that a whisky this old could have retained this strength. Opens with a deliciously full bouquet of fudge, treacle, Greek olives, cracked wheat, vanilla wafers, mint, lemongrass, herbal tea, and clover. Unusual, but mouthwatering.

Palate: fireworks of spice and sugar! I went with three or four drops simply to open it slightly and then let it sit for a few minutes. I can’t get over how delicate this whisky is at this proof! There’s a river of white chocolate, bordered by a forest of bourbon oak and chestnut wood. A malty sky with a citrus sun creates the backdrop, and the easel is framed out by a lovely interplay of raspberry preserves, cherry blossoms, and feathery herbals. Beyond the more lively flavors I’m also getting a deep foundation of earthy flavors. There’s a toothy length of maduro tobacco, some leather, and just a trace of oil and aniseed. My attempts to capture every little nuance is making me quite meditative. Excellent, deep finish with an almost chewy texture.

Phew, I don’t know what else to say. Remarkable balance and vitality, with no evidence of being overly oaked. Surprising, after that much time in the barrel. Alcohol: 53.5% by volume.

I cannot tell you fun it is to taste a whisky this exclusive. If you ever get a chance, make absolute certain that you try a whisky at this level at some point in your life. Score: 93